Wheaton man sentenced to 12 years for Glen Ellyn home invasion

GLEN ELLYN – A Wheaton man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Oct. 1 after pleading guilty to a Glen Ellyn home invasion, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

Jeffrey H. Beard, 65, of the 1400 block of Avery Avenue, Wheaton, pled guilty to home invasion and discharge of a dangerous weapon in relation to an incident that occurred in September 2012, said Paul Darrah, communications manager for the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

At about 10:30 p.m. Sept. 16, 2012, Beard armed himself with a gun and entered the home of a female acquaintance in Glen Ellyn, where she was present with a male occupant of the house, according to a State's Attorney's Office news release.

Once inside the home, Beard confronted the victims and threatened to shoot them, at one point putting the gun to the woman’s head, the release said. Beard shot the gun at some point during the altercation, according to the release.

The male victim eventually was allowed to leave the home and immediately contacted the authorities, according to the release. When members of the Glen Ellyn Police Department arrived, the female victim was able to run out of the house. Beard attempted to flee the scene, but was found and taken into custody after being tasered by police, the release said.

Beard will be eligible for parole after serving six years of the sentence, Darrah said.